President’s Message

From the President

For the past several months, I have enjoyed swapping vaccine stories with colleagues, family and friends because I know that, with each vaccine, we are all moving ever closer to returning to safe, healthy, and normal lives.

Above: ASB President Bob Methvin, BBA President Lanier Brown and BBA Past President Leila Watson. Below: Lanier with Pooja Chawla and Leila.

This return to normal will include the return of traditional Birmingham Bar in-person events like the Picnic, Coffee with the Judges and Courtyard Socials and, of course, the Holiday Party.

We are working on plans for the return of in-person events, even if we have to modify them a bit to ensure all of our members feel comfortable attending them. So please stay tuned for what’s to come.

Despite the continuing pandemic, the 2021 Birmingham Bar year has been filled with activities to keep you engaged with the legal community and connected to your fellow attorneys. We have provided benefits to our members in the following ways:

► Our Committees have been extremely active in organizing and implementing programs and events. ► The leaders of our 10 Sections are coordinating events that meet the needs of Section members. ► We have hosted a couple of virtual social events. ► Our 27 free virtual CLE programs have been well attended and received very positive reviews. ► This is our second issue of the Bulletin magazine for the year, one of the many ways we help you get to know one another. ► Through our weekly email newsletters, the Birmingham Bar connects our members to a variety of opportunities through the Bar and throughout the community.

As you will see on pages 12-18 of this issue of the Bulletin, we are highlighting the work of our many active Committees in the work they have done so far this

Above: Virtual Coffee with the Judges, hosted by the Court Liaison Committee. Right: Birmingham Connection Committee CLE event.

year. I hope you have taken advantage of the opportunity to participate on a Committee — Committee service is a way to meet other attorneys, develop leadership skills, put your creativity to work for others, and work on a high-functioning team to achieve common goals. I want to highlight some of the work of our hard-working Committees: ► Our Court Liaison Committee presented “Insights from Tenth Judicial Circuit Judges” with Judge Agnes Chappell, Judge Shera Grant, Judge Jim Hughey and Judge Stephen Wallace sharing their experiences with conducting trials during COVID-19. ► Also, the Court Liaison Committee hosted a virtual Coffee with the Judges with guests Judge Anne Durward, Judge Shera Grant, Judge Andra Sparks and Judge Pat Ballard. We were pleased to also have Judge Chuck Price, Judge Patricia Stephens, Judge Carnella Greene-Norman, Judge Jameria Moore, Judge Marshell Hatcher, Judge Brendette Green and Judge Kechia Davis join us and help make it a successful event. ► The In-House/Corporate Committee presented “Birmingham Companies Advancing Social Justice and Racial Equity” with Erica Sheffield from Honda Manufacturing, Houston Smith from Alabama Power, Courtney Richardson from

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Shipt, Brandon Wolfe from UAB, and moderated by Al Vance of Altec. ► Our Birmingham Connection Committee educated members about “Project Development in Birmingham” with speakers Cornell Wesley from the City of Birmingham, David Fleming from REV Birmingham and John Pickering from Balch & Bingham discussing the projects being built in Birmingham and opportunities for our city’s continued growth. Above left: Law Day 2021 , hosted by the Community Education Committee. Below left: Business Development for Every Law Practice, hosted by the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Above: Lanier in the BBA Courtyard with members of the Executive Committee.

► In addition, the Birmingham Connection Committee hosted a day of service at the local Bush Hills Community Garden and Urban Farm, cleaning up the farm to prepare it for spring planting. ► Our Family Law Committee presented “Legal Issues and Perspectives Concerning DHR Cases” with speakers Referee Alisha Ruffin, GAL Christy Millsap and Greg Varner. ► For Law Day 2021, the Community Education Committee hosted “A Conversation with Legendary Attorney Fred Gray,” featuring Mr. Gray being interviewed by BBA Past President Bill Clark. ► Our Diversity and Inclusion Committee invited Heather Fann of Fann Law / Five Points Law Group to speak to a capacity audience on the “History and Evolution of Marriage Law” along with moderator Christen Butler. ► The Diversity and Inclusion Committee also coordinated a program on “Business Development for Every Law Practice” featuring Marcus Maples of Baker Donelson and Kimberly Perkins of Lloyd & Hogan and moderated by Angela Kennedy of AKennedy Law. ► In March, the Nominating Committee began its series of regular meetings to develop a slate of candidates for the 2022 Executive Committee, which our members will have the opportunity to vote on in December. ► On a continual basis, the Grievance Committee members conduct investigations into allegations of attorney misconduct and meet regularly to make a recommendation as to whether there is probable cause to find a violation of any of the Rules of Professional Responsibility. ► The Fee Arbitration Committee, which receives and hears complaints filed by clients regarding the fees charged by their attorneys, has adjudicated several cases in the past few years. Our Committees are busy!

Looking ahead, I am optimistic that we will be able to gather for Coffee with the Judges in the fall, that our Sections will host in-person events throughout the second half of the year and that we will have our traditional Holiday Party to celebrate a successful year.

I look forward to seeing you at all of these events.

In the meantime, please contact me if there is anything the Birmingham Bar can do for you.